Slicing machine unit



April 4,v 1944. T W, W|NBERG p -rAL 2,345,782

sLIclNG MACHINE UNIT Filed April 6, 1942 2 Sheets-s118481; l

April 4, 1944.l

` T. w. WINBERG E1-AL 'SLICING MACHINE UNIT Filpd'April '6, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr'. 4, 1944 2,345,782 y sLIcING MACHINE UNIT Travis Walker Winberg and Raymond A. Ames,

Beaumont, Tex., assgnors to U. S. Slicing Machine Company, La Porte, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application April 6, 1942, Serial No. 437,820

6 Claims. (Cl. 146-102) This invention relates to a `slicing machine unit in which there is mounted a slicing 'machine on a cabinet.

An important object of the presentinventon isfthe provision `cf a slicing machine unit comprising a slicing machine mounted on a cabinet, there being means within the cabinet and extending therethrough and operatively and disconnectibly fastened to a slicing machine whereby the slicing machine may be operated selectively either automatically or manually.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a slicing machine unit including a slicing machine having a motor driven knife adapted to be continuously rotated, and a stand or cabinet upon which the slicing machine is mounted, there being driving means arranged within the cabinet and disconnectibly connected to a slidably mounted slicing machine carriage, whereby the carriage may be manually operated by disconnecting vthe mechanism, or the carriagemay be reciprocated automatically by the means arranged within the cabinet when the parts are connected.

Another object of the invention is the provision of new and improved means'disconnectibly connected to a slicing machine carriage which is normally manually operated, whereby the carriage may be operated selectively either manually or automatically.

A still further object of the invention resides in the `provision of link and crank mechanism operably and disconnectibly connected to a slicing machine to render the slicing machine capable of full automatic operation or manual reciprocation. 1

Still another object of the invention is the provision of certain parts adapted to be disconnectibly connected to the driving mechanism and to a part on the slicing machine carriage whereby the carriage may be operated either manually or automatically.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be'apparent throughout the following specication.

"The accompanying drawings illustrate a selectedl embodiment oi the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig.`1 isfa side elevational view of the improved vslicing machine unit, parts being shown in section for' the purpose of clearness.

Fig. A2 is a detail vertical sectional View on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan section 'on the line 3-3 of Figfl.

Fig. '4 is a detail front elevational view, parts being shown in section for the purpose of clearness.

The unit embodying the present invention may comprise a `cabinet I, which may be of the type disclosed in co-pending applications, Serial No. 482,023, filed February 23, 1942, and Serial No. D103,527, filed September 26, 194.1, both of which are assigned to the present assignee, and a slicing vmachineZ, which may be of the wellknown G. C. model, as manufactured by the UtS. Slicing Machine Company, of La Porte, Indiana.

The slicing machine 2 is of the push-pull type having a base 3, upon which there is mounted for rectilinear reciprocation a carriage 4. The carriage is mounted on guides 5, there being a roller 6 mounted on'a ilange -1 depending from the lower edge of the carriage. This roller is adapted to roll upon a guide 5 and is arranged beneath an upper ange 8 `ona ilanged rod or bar 9, which is secured to the base 3 in spaced relation with a guide `5, as shownl in Figs. 1 and 4. The slicing machine also carries a spring pressed plunger e1ement I Il which is adapted to engage any one of a plurality of holes I I formed in the bar member 9 so that the slicing machine maybe locked in position when the plunger is in engagement with one of the holes for the purposeof providing a safeguard during cleaningof the machine and Shipping.

This plunger element I0 comprises a stern I2, Figs. 2 and 3, uponwhich there is rigidly secured at one Yend a knurled knob I3. A spring I 4 is arranged about the stem I2 and its purpose is to normally keep the plunger in retracted position,

, that is, in a position so that it will not become engaged with the openings II in the angle bart. Means are provided, however, so that when pressure is applied to the knob, the stem I2 may be pushed inwardly to locking position, and then when given a part turn will remain in such locked position until it is again turned so as to release it.

A gland or nut I5 cooperates with part of the structure of the plunger mechanism I0 to hold it in operative position on the flange member? which extends downwardly below the bottom of the carriage.

The slicing machine embodies the usual gauge plate I6, the slicing knife Il and a motor arranged within the base for driving the knife. A food pusher I8 is operatively mounted on and carried by the carriage to move substance on the carriage into engagement with the gauge plate I6, there being a manually operated knob I9 for controlling the position of the gauge plateV to determine the thickness of slices to be cut from the substance on the meat table 20, which forms the upper surface of the carriage 4. A slice' receiver 2l is positioned on the left hand side of the slicing machine to receive the cut slices after they are severed from the substance by the knife. A handle 22 is mounted on the forward end of the carriage to permit the carriage to be reciprocated back and forth in a rectilinear path. A stop 23 is provided to prevent the food pusher from fouling with the knife, and a locking mechanism 24 is provided to lock the foodpusher in inoperative position (in the extreme right hand position, Fig. 4, when the food pusher is not in use). I

'I'he cabinet or stand upon which the slicing machine is mounted may be any type of support, but is preferably the cabinet of the type disclosed in the aforementioned applications. The cabinet I comprises enclosing side walls 35,

atop 3|, there being a door 32 in the front wall for permitting access to the interior of the cabinet. The cabinet, as shown in the aforesaid copending applications, may be provided with a paper receiving compartment 33 andra shelf 34 to receive a pan. Also, as disclosed in the aforesaid applications, there may be a swinging door 35 for communication with a pan 36 mounted on the shelf 34. The base structure 31 and the bottom 38 of the cabinet are also preferably constructed in a manner substantially as shown and described in the aforesaid cases.

The slicing machine and the cabinet so far described are standard articles of manufacture by the assignee herein and are sold either separately or for conjoint use. The invention, however, refers to operatively connecting the slicing machine 2 mounted on the cabinet I so as to provide a complete operating unit, permitting the slicing machine to be operated either` manually or fully automatically and still house substantially all the operating mechanism for effecting the automatic operation of the machine. u

The means for permitting operation of the slicing machine either manually orautomatically comprises a motor 40 having reduced speed gearing 4I for rotating a crank arm 42 at the proper speed. The crank arm 42 is rigidly connected tothe speed reducing mechanism 4I which is operated by the motor 40. A link 43 has one of its ends pivotally connected at 44 to the crank arm 42 and its other end pivotally connected at 45 to a vertically extending elongated lever arm 46. The lever arm 46 has its lower end connected at 41 to a part of the base 31 and has its upper end extending through a slot 48 formed in the top 3| of the cabinet I. The shelf 34 may also be provided with a slot 49 to permit the swinging movement of the lever or arm 46. The lever 46 may have its lower part formed from channel shaped material to lend' rigidity thereto and its upper end of a solid member 50 of a relatively small cross-sectional area so as to obviate the necessity of making too big a slot in the top of the cabinet. The part |!A may be connected to the lower part of the member 46 in any suitable manner, such as by bolting the member 56 to the upper part of the member 46 as indicated at 5I. The rotation of the motor will therefore cause oscillatory or rocking movement of the member 46. f

The upper part 50 of the member 45 terminates in an enlargement or bossk 52 having an elongated opening therethrough to receive a pivot pin 53 to which a driving arm 54 is attached;

The driving arm 54 is pivoted as at 55, Fig. 3, to the upwardly extending end 50 of the member 46. The end of the driving arm is bifurcated, as indicated at 55 to receive the boss 52, the pin 53 passing through the bifurcated end of the driving arm 54 and the boss 52, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The free end of the driving arm 54 terminates in a jaw 51, which is adaptable for engagement with the rod I2 of the member I 6. .A pair of conical washers 58 is mounted on the stem I2, and these washers 58 are normally pressed toward each other by the spring i4 and are adapted to receive the jaw of the driving member. rThe lateral Vsides of the jaw maybe concave so as to receive the conical surfaces of the washer members 58.

The jaw 51 of the driving member is adapted to be received between the conical washers 58 and have operative engagement with the pin I2 so as to makea driving connection between the arm 54 and the carriage. The driving member is attached to the rod or stem I2 by either pulling one washer away from the other, against the tension of the spring I4, and then bringing the jaw into engagement with the rod I2, or the jaw may be snapped in position between the washers. To release the driving arm from the carriage, a washer 53 (the one to the right, Fig. 3) is pulled toward the knob I3 against the tension of the spring I4 whereby the driving arm 54 may be easily disconnected from the rod I2. The driving arm and the end 56 of the driving link 46 may be provided with stop lugs sov as to limit the pivotal movement of the driving arm on the pivot 53. A protecting shield 68 may be attached to the top of the cabinet adjacent the slot 48 so as to provide a guard for the moving link.

The connection of the link 43 with the crank arm42 may be adjustable, as indicated at 66a, Fig. 1, so that 'the movement of the member 46 can be increased or decreased depending upon the machine to be driven. This adjustable connection 60a may comprise a slot in the crank arm 42 to bring the pivotal connection 44 of the link 43 closer to or farther away from the crank drive shaft so as to vary the stroke. Thus, machines having greater or less carriage movement can be properly operated by merely adjusting the stroke of the link 43, which in turn governs the pivotal movement of the member 46 on its pivot 41.

The motor for driving the knife I1 may be electrically connected to an electrically controlled switch 6I, Fig. 4, mounted on the base of the machine. A switch 62 may be mounted on the side of the cabinet near the upper end thereof for controlling the operation of the driving motor 40. If desired, the switch 62 may be operatively connected for controlling the operation of the motor for driving the knife I1, as well as to the driving motor 5G. The switch 62 therefore may be electrically connected with both motors or there may be separate switches 6I and 62 for controlling the operation of the knife driving motor and the motor 40 selectively. If desired, one of the switches could be used for controlling the main circuit to the knife motor as well as to the driving motor 46, while a separate switch could be used for controlling the operation of the driving motor 40. Also, if desired, a main switch leading to the unit may be providedwith separate switches leading toV each of the motors for selective operation The invention provides new and improved means for' rendering a slicing machine capable of either manual or fully automatic operation. The construction used to drive the carriage automatically is operatively housed in a utility cabinet of special design. The parts are relatively few in number, strong and durable in construction, and are adapted for immediate application. The standard products as manufactured by the assignee herein are thus capable of being sold separately or in combination or as a unit as herein described. Many parts of the standard slicing machine are adapted for engagement and cooperation with the driving mechanism and therefore the driving feature may be applied at a minimum cost.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacricing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes which fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A slicing machine unit comprising a cabinet, a slicing machine mounted on top of the cabinet, said slicing machine including a carriage adapted for reciprocation in a rectilinear path, a knife, and means for driving the knife, drive means arranged interiorly of the cabinet, means operatively connected to the drive means and extending through an opening in the cabinet, a member pivoted to the last named means, locking means on said machine, and a receiving member mounted on said carriage for disconnectible engagement with the last named member, said receiving member being adapted for movement selectively to engage said locking means and lock the carriage in a predetermined position.

2. A slicing machine comprising a base, a carriage slidably mounted on the base and adapted to support a piece of substance, a knife for cutting slices from said substance, locking means on said base, and means carried by the base for driving the knife, a cabinet lupon which said slicing machine is mounted, a motor in the cabinet, a crank arm driven'by the motor, a pivotally mounted rock lever driven bythe crank arm for oscillation in a substantially vertical plane and means disconnectibly fastening said rock lever to the carriage whereby the carriage may be power driven, said last mentioned means being adapted for movement selectively to engage said locking means and lock the carriage in a predetermined position.

3. A slicing machine comprising a base, a carriage slidably mounted on the base and adapted to support a piece of substance, a knife for cuti ting slices from said substance, locking means on said base, and means carried by the base for driving the knife, a cabinet upon which said slicing machine is mounted, a motor in the cabinet, a crank arm driven by the motor, a pivotally mounted rock lever driven by the crank arm for oscillation in a substantially vertical plane, a

member pivotally connected to said rock lever and a drive member on the carriage, said drive member and said pivoted member being adapted for disconnectible engagement whereby the carriage is adapted for either power or manual operation, said drive member being adapted for movement selectively to engage said locking means to lock the carriage in a predetermined position.

4. A slicing machine unit comprising a slicing machine having a carriage member mounted for to-and-fro movement, means for manually moving said carriage, a support for said slicing machine, power drive means within said support, a driving member moved to-and-fro by said drive means, locking means on said base, and means for selectively driving said carriage member by said driving member comprising an arm pivotally connected to the driving member, a pin mounted on said carriage, said pin being adapted for movement selectively to engage said locking means to lock the carriage in a predetermined position, a pair of washer-like members mounted on said pin and having opposed generally conical surfaces, spring means resiliently urging the washer-like members towards each other, and a forked jaw on said arm adapted to be detachably received between said spring pressed washer-like members.

5. A slicing machine unit comprising a slicing machine having a carriage member mounted for to-and-fro movement, means for manually moving said carriage, a pin mounted on said carriage, said pin being adapted for movement selectively to lock the carriage in a predetermined position, a support for said slicing machine, power drive means within said support, a driving member moved to-and-fro by said drive meansl and means for selectively driving said carriage member by said driving member comprising an arm pivotally connected to the driving member, and a forked jaw on said arm adapted to engage around a portion of said locking pin.

6. A slicing machine unit comprising a slicing machine having a carriage member mounted for to-and-fro movement, means for manually moving said carriage, a pin mounted on said carriage, said pin being adapted for movement selectively to lock the carriage in a predetermined position, spring means urging said pin towards a retracted position, a support for said slicing machine, power drive means within said support, a driving member moved to-and-fro by said drive means, and means for selectively driving said carriage member by said driving member comprising an arm pivotally connected to the driving member, a pair of washer-like members mounted on said locking pin and resiliently urged towards each other by said spring means, and a forked jaw on said arm adapted to be detachably received between said Washer-like members.

TRAVIS WALKER WINBERG. RAYMOND A. AMES. 

